Nissan delays Renault comeback

The return of Renault to the local market is likely to be pushed back and might slip into 2001, according to the managing director of Nissan Australia, Leon Daphne.

01 December 1999ALASTAIR DOAK

The return of Renault to the local market is likely to be pushed back and might slip into 2001, according to the managing director of Nissan Australia, Leon Daphne.

Nissan, which would distribute Renaults, had originally planned a launch of what is expected to be a three-car range at the Sydney motor show next November.

However, Daphne said the company was still in the process of working out the final details of the deal with Renault Asia Pacific management (based in Singapore) and that the launch date was now expected to be pushed back.

Daphne said it was still possible that Renault cars would be seen at the Sydney show as part of a pre-launch publicity drive.

Nissan has been given approval to sell Renault here because the car makers have formed a global alliance and Renault is a substantial shareholder in the Japanese car maker.

Although Daphne remained tight-lipped about the model lineup, the first batch of Renaults is expected to include three models. The cheapest Renault on offer is likely to be the Clio five-door hatch, the Megane hatch and the Scenic (pictured), which is a Megane-based one-box five-seater.

The Renault range is expected to mirror that of French rival Peugeot, with the Clio a direct competitor for the new 206. It is likely to be priced at about $20,000 for the base model.

The Megane hatch is a rival for the 306 and is likely to be priced from about $24,000.

The Scenic would be one of the first of what is expected to be a flood of small one-box models, and is likely to be priced close to $30,000. Renault is expected to sell between 3000 and 5000 cars in the medium term.

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The size of your tyre is located on the sidewall of your tyre.It will be similar to the sample below.